Interlude: Notifications, Letters, and Wasting Time

Have you ever sat in a meeting and someone's phone kept beeping or vibrating with notifications?

I noticed this situation in a meeting just last week. And in that moment, I was reminded that I have an unusual approach to managing my notifications: I don't use them.

Yup. You read that right.

No sounds from incoming text messages. No vibrations for meeting reminders. No pop-ups with breaking news.

I have nearly all notifications turned off (the only exception is for missed calls).

I have found that turning off these notifications has done wonders for my focus and productivity. I can check them when I want to, not when my phone wants me to.

I recognize that not everyone can go to such an extreme. But carefully designing your notifications to support you (and not distract you) can give you more control over how you spend your time.

How did I design my phone to work for me? After reading this article, I considered the suggestions and customized my phone to best support me. It took some time to set things up. And at first, it was challenging to adapt to the changes. But 5 years in, I can confidently say it was one of the best things I've done to take more control of my time and attention.

What are your strategies for limiting distractions from your phone?

Now onto this week's round-up...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

How to Write a Cover Letter for Your Manuscript​
Most journals require that authors submit a cover letter along with their manuscript. This letter is your chance to market your research findings and capture the journal editor’s interest. To write a strong cover letter that will help move your manuscript to the next stage of review, you can use a helpful guide and template to ensure you include the essential elements.

📆 Upcoming

​American Medical Writers Association Conference​
I'm thrilled to be invited to speak at the upcoming American Medical Writers Association conference in New Orleans. This year, I'll be leading or co-leading three sessions:

• A panel discussion on "The Future of Editing: Cultural Awareness, Technology Tools, and Mentoring."

• A panel discussion on "What to Do When You Have Enough Clients: Career Progression as a Freelancer."

• A roundtable discussion on "How to Sell Yourself Without Being Salesy."

Registration for the conference just opened, and you can get the early bird rates until the end of June. Learn more and register

👓 Reading

Writing effective letters of recommendation in physiology​
Although researchers need to write letters of recommendation for a host of reasons, most of them have not completed any formal training in how to write these letters. In this article, the author describes "...the responsibilities and challenges of writing letters of recommendation, for whom you should consider writing a letter, the pros and cons of asking the candidate to create an initial draft, and the information required for you to write a letter." They also share a helpful structure to follow and 10 tips for writing effective letters of recommendation.

🎧 Listening

Before You Waste Time, Listen to This – The Mel Robbins Podcast​
In this podcast episode, Dr. Alok Kanojia shares the shocking statistic that many of us will spend 20 years of our lives on our phones. He also shares his top strategies to take control of the time you spend with technology. Here are three strategies that I use:

• Turn off all notifications on your phone and computer, both the sounds and the pop-ups on the home screen. You might make exceptions for certain family members or apps, such as your calendar.

• Don't keep your phone on your desk or even within eyesight. Schedule time to check your messages when you want to, not when your phone wants you to.

• Use Focus mode in Word to prevent distractions while you do deep work.

🧰 Tools

​Opal​
If you want to spend less time on your phone, this free app can help you develop better screen habits, improve your productivity, and find balance in your life.

✅ Action

Take one step toward taking control of your technology and reducing distractions. Grab your cell phone, and put it in another room for 1 hour. During that hour, were you more focused and productive?

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal